LAKE VILLA, Ill. – A Lake County teen is being praised for jumping into action when his bus driver suffered a medical emergency last month.
“I was terrified. Hopefully, nothing like this happens again in the future. I’m glad everyone was okay,” Jeffrey Starck Jr. said.
According to Lake Villa police, the incident happened around 8:15 a.m. on February 20 as Starck Jr. was on the bus with other students. The driver suffered a medical emergency and became unresponsive behind the wheel.
“We went off-roading; hit a mailbox and two trash cans,” Starck said.
The 19-year-old, who is autistic, told WGN-TV that he didn’t think twice about jumping into action when he noticed his bus driver wasn’t responding to him. He was able to get a hold of the steering wheel, maneuver the bus onto a lawn, and press the brake.
Video shows the bus narrowly missed a retention pond and clipped a tree before it came to a rest just feet before it could hit another tree head-on.
Resident Kathie Caspary, who lives in the home where this all came to an end, called the young man’s actions “heroic.”
“That tree kept them from going into the pond and one of the little gals on the bus was strapped down in her wheelchair. I thought, what if that would have happened,” said Caspary.
Earlier this week, Starck Jr. was honored by Lake Villa’s police chief and mayor at a local board meeting with a lifesaving award.
“In a moment of crisis, when every second counted, Jeffrey took decisive action and showed unwavering courage. His selfless actions to save the lives of others is truly remarkable. He is a local hero,” said Chief Rochelle Tisinai.
Police said the driver of the bus was taken to the hospital and no students on board were injured.
Starck Jr. told WGN-TV that he never expected the hype that would come from what happened. He is still replaying the moments over in his head, but more than anything, he is grateful that everyone is okay.
“I’m glad I was able to stop that bus in time and I’m glad they’re all proud of me and same with my family,” Starck Jr. said.
His mother, Anne Guttschow, told WGN-TV she couldn’t be prouder of her son’s actions.
“The beautiful thing is he had gone through driver’s ed. training in high school, so he had that training and ability to react as he did,” said Guttschow. “I think that’s where it hits, right, is so many people think they can’t and want to hold them back and clearly this is an excellent example of how you can.”
On top of the job he holds, Starck Jr. is part of a program at Antioch High School that allows him to take classes for half the day and attend classes at the tech campus the other half, where he is learning autobody collision repair.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him as a young man. He really has set a huge example for what you can do and what others think you can’t,” Guttschow said.
Guttschow’s message is simple: Young adults with ‘disabilities’ have amazing capabilities. Her son shared his own message with WGN-TV.
“Always step up for yourself and help anyone that needs it really, like my bus driver,” said Starck Jr.